The Janus File by Robert McNeil

Author:Robert McNeil [McNeil, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert McNeil
Published: 2015-06-03T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Lamond had set out from London first thing in the morning to drive back up to Scotland. He’d checked he wasn’t being followed. He’d made good time and his car was now winding round the main road from Carlisle to Hawick. Black clouds had swept in and the temperature had dropped noticeably. Heavy drops of rain began to splatter on the dusty windscreen. Lightening flashed over the hills on his left and thunder rumbled loudly overhead. Lamond switched his wipers to full speed as the rain came down in a ferocious downpour, drumming loudly on the roof of the car and bouncing off the road in front.

He mulled over what he had gleaned from Sophie. He hadn’t found out much. But Bill had asked for a file code named Janus. He knew that an MI5 officer by the name of John Hawke had asked for the Red Fox file. Sophie had described Hawke as black. The man Hannah had described was black. It was too much of a coincidence. Lamond was certain that it must be Hawke who was watching him – and Hannah. But why? Karl Reibber had kept the Janus file and Steven Blake had authorised it. He needed to talk to Jane Hamilton again: see if she could throw any light on what Bill might have left for him at the solicitor’s office.

The storm passed over as quickly as it had arrived. Shafts of sunlight now pierced through gaps in the clouds, bathing the hilltops in incandescent light. The dark shadows of the racing clouds swept across the hillsides. Soon, he was turning left onto the road that led up to Roberton and Jane’s cottage. A few minutes later, he pulled the Saab onto Jane’s gravel driveway.

Jane was pleased to see him. ‘It’s good of you to come, Jack. Rory had to go back to Kefalonia.’ She smiled weakly, ‘Business to run and all that. I’ll put the kettle on for some tea.’

After a few minutes small talk Lamond decided to bite the bullet. ‘Jane … I, eh … the thing is … I don’t want to upset you or worry you, but I need to ask you some questions–’

‘Oh?’

‘Jane, there’s no easy way to explain this, but there’s something strange going on.’ He told her about his suspicions over Bill’s death. About his curiosity over the package Bill had left – and the break-in at his London flat. When he had finished, Jane was speechless. Her thoughts were confused. Her mind was racing.

‘I … I don’t understand. Why would anyone …’

‘I don’t know, but I intend to find out.’

Jane looked as though she were in shock. ‘I … I think I need a drink. There’s some white wine in the fridge. I’ll just–’

Lamond held up a hand. ‘You stay there. I’ll get it.’ He returned with two glasses. ‘Think I’ll join you if that’s okay?’ He smiled.

‘Yes … of course.’ She took a large gulp and returned the smile. ‘Fire away.’

‘Did Bill ever talk about

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